nests on the snares island cliffs

Size
Length: 85-95 cm, Weight: 3.0-4.0 kg
Lifespan
30-40 years
Diet
Carnivorous - feeds on fish, squid, and crustaceans. Follows fishing vessels for discards and offal. Forages by surface-seizing and shallow diving.
Habitat
Open subantarctic and temperate oceans. Breeds on steep coastal cliffs and rocky headlands of remote islands. Nests in colonies on exposed ridges.
Range
Breeds on islands off New Zealand including the Auckland Islands, Snares Islands, and Campbell Island. Forages across the Southern Ocean from Australia to South America.
Endemism
Endemic
Main Threats
Incidental bycatch in longline and trawl fisheries in the Southern Ocean. Climate change affecting prey distribution and breeding success. Historically harvested for feathers.
Population
Global population estimated at 50,000-100,000 breeding pairs. Breeds on islands off New Zealand including the Auckland Islands and the Snares.
Conservation Status
Nationally Vulnerable
Human Risk
harmless
Handling Note
seabird, do not approach or disturb on nesting grounds
Conservation Note
Endemic mollymawk; breeds on Chatham Islands and Solander Island, threatened by fisheries bycatch.
Assessment
NZTCS Birds (2021)
Te Ao Māori
Toroa is the general Māori name for mollymawks and great albatrosses. The white-capped mollymawk was distinguished by Māori as a bird of the southern seas. Its pale head and dark back set it apart. Albatrosses were chiefly birds. Their feathers were worn as symbols of rank. Their long-ranging flights were seen as journeys between worlds. This view persists. The bird remains a symbol of distance. It represents the connection between realms. It is respected for its power.
A large, elegant albatross with a pale grey cap. It looks like it is wearing a skullcap pulled down low over its forehead. The white-capped mollymawk is one of the most common albatrosses in New Zealand waters. You see it regularly from the South Island coast. It appears around the subantarctic islands. It is a bird of the open ocean. A master of the wind. This is its domain. The plumage is dark grey above and white below. The head is pale grey, fading to white on the face. The bill is black with a bright yellow ridge and an orange tip. The underwing is white with a narrow dark trailing edge. The bird is distinctive once you know what to look for. But confusion is possible. It is often mistaken for Salvin's mollymawk. The white-capped has a paler head. Salvin's has a darker head. The difference is subtle. It matters for identification. It feeds on fish, squid, and crustaceans. It follows fishing vessels for discards and offal. This behaviour is convenient for the bird. It is dangerous too. Like all albatrosses, it is vulnerable to longline bycatch. Thousands die that way each year. The numbers are not encouraging. The risk is constant. The reward is immediate. The flight is typical mollymawk. A series of rapid flaps followed by a long glide. It is more energetic than the great albatrosses. It covers distance with efficiency. It rides the air currents. It does not fight the wind. It uses it. Breeding takes it to remote subantarctic islands. The nest is a pedestal of mud and vegetation. It is built on a cliff ledge. A single egg is laid. Both parents share incubation. The chick is fed on regurgitated squid and fish oil. It fledges at about four months. The process is slow. It requires patience. In New Zealand, white-capped mollymawks breed on the Auckland Islands, Campbell Island, and the Snares. The populations are large. They are stable. The white-capped mollymawk is not endangered. This is good news. It is rare for seabirds. The call is a low, moaning croak. It is heard only at night on the breeding colonies. The sound carries across the cliffs. It marks the presence of the birds. It is a sombre noise. It fits the environment. The white-capped mollymawk is a bird of the Southern Ocean. A creature of the roaring forties. It belongs to the wild water. It does not belong on land. It returns only to breed. Then it leaves. It goes back to the wind. It keeps going.